Spinning wrench systems

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for rotating a tubular, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including having a plurality of tubular-contacting rollers with one or more pairs of interlaced rollers. This Abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to apparatuses for connecting anddisconnecting tubular members (e.g. casing, tubing, pipe, or drill pipe)and, in certain particular aspects to spinners, spinning wrenches,spinning tongs, iron roughnecks and methods of their use.

2. Description of Related Art

Drill pipe introduced into a well during oil and gas wellbore drillingis assembled in lengths joined with threaded joints. As the pipe is fedinto a well, the sections of pipe are threaded together. When removingpipe, the threaded sections are disconnected and the sections of pipestored. Inserting and removing the sections of drill pipe is called“tripping.” Threading and unthreading sections of pipe on tripping inand out of the well can be a difficult and cumbersome job. To make upthe threads (or unscrew or break the threads) requires relatively hightorque (rotational force). “Spinning” the pipe section after breaking(or before making up) the joints requires much less torque and isaccomplished at much higher speed. Tightening and breaking jointsrequires a wrench to be tightly clamped on the pipe. In the early days,tightening and breaking was done manually with hand wrenches (morerecently with power assisted wrenches). Spinning is a separateoperation, long ago and in some places today done by wrapping a chainaround a pipe and pulling the chain with a winch. Today power tongwrenches are used. Certain of these tongs have an open slot for pipeinsertion and hydraulically powered clamps to grip the pipe. The pipe isrotated by a motor mechanically attached to the wrench. Such wrenchescan develop high torque and work very well for making and breakingthread joints. Usually these wrenches work in combination with a backupwrench that holds the other section of threaded joint. The wrench isremoved after making or breaking the threads, and a spinner (or topdrive unit) spins out the threaded joint. Such wrenches are exemplifiedby the description in U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,920. Some types of thesewrenches lack the capacity of handling different diameter pipe withoutchanging pipe clamps. Since drill pipe, couplings, tapered pipe andjoints are of different diameters, some wrenches handle widely varyingdiameters—from about 3.5 to about 9.5 inches in diameter. It is a greatadvantage for a wrench to be able to accommodate a range of diameterswithout having to change the clamps. U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,356 is anexample of a power tong wrench which can not only accommodate thedesired range of pipe diameters, but is also capable of making andbreaking pipe sections and spinning the pipe. The ability to do bothwith the same wrench is highly desirable since it accomplishes with oneconnection step what previously required two or more connections with awrench and spinner.

“Iron roughnecks,” which combine a torque wrench and a spinning wrench,have been used for connecting and disconnecting various tubulars, e.g.drilling components, such as drill pipe, in running a string of drillpipe or other pipe into or out of a well. The prior art includes avariety of iron roughnecks; see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,023,449;4,348,920; 4,765,401; 6,776,070, all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

Various prior art iron roughnecks have a spinning wrench and a torquewrench mounted together on a carriage. For making or breaking threadedconnections between two tubulars, e.g. joints of drill pipe, certainiron roughnecks have a torque wrench with two jaw levels. An upper jawof the torque wrench is used to clamp onto a portion of an uppertubular, and a lower jaw clamps onto a portion of a lower tubular, e.g.upper and lower threadedly connected pieces of drill pipe. Afterclamping onto a tubular, the upper and lower jaws are turned relative toeach other to break or make a connection between the upper and lowertubulars. A spinning wrench, mounted on the carriage above the torquewrench, engages the upper tubular and spins it until it is disconnectedfrom the lower tubular (or in a connection operation, spins two tubularstogether prior to final make-up by the torque wrench).

Certain iron roughnecks are mounted for movement from a wellbore centerto a retracted position which does not interfere with or blockperformance of other operations relative to the well and rotating ordriving apparatuses. Such a prior art system can be used for making andbreaking joints in a main string or for connecting to or disconnectingfrom a tubular section located apart from a wellbore center, e.g. in amousehole (or rathole) at a side of a well.

Certain prior art iron roughneck systems include a carriage for rollingon the surface of the rig floor along a predetermined path. In certainprior art systems a spinner and torque wrench are mounted for upward anddownward movement relative to a carriage, for proper engagement withtubulars, and for tilting movement between a position in which theiraxis extends directly vertically for engagement with a vertical wellpipe and a position in which the axis of the spinner and torque wrenchis disposed at a slight angle to true vertical to engage and act againsta pipe in an inclined mousehole. In certain prior art systems, a spinneris movable vertically with respect to a torque wrench.

The prior art discloses a variety of tongs and spinners for use inwellbore operations, e.g., but not limited to, as disclosed in andreferred to in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,684,737; 6,971,283; 5,660,087;5,161,438; 5,159,860; 5,842,390; 5,245,877; 5,259,275; 5,390,568;4,446,761; 4,346,629; 4,221,269; 3,892,148; 4,023,449; 5,044,232;5,081,888; 5,167,173; 5,207,128; 5,409,280; 5,868,045; 6,966,385;6,138,529; 4,082,017; 6,082,224; 6,213,216; 6,330,911; 6,668,684;6,752,044; 6,318,214; and 6,142,041 (all said patents incorporated fullyherein for all purposes).

There is a need, recognized by the present inventors, for an efficienttubular spinning system which can effectively handle a range of tubularswith varying diameters.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in certain embodiments, provides an apparatus forrotating a tubular, the apparatus including a plurality of adjacentdriven rollers which can be interlaced to accommodate tubulars with arange of diameters. Such an apparatus may have a motor for each set ofrollers. In certain aspects, this configuration of motors withinterlacing rollers permits axes of adjacent motors to be relativelycloser resulting in a more compact tool.

Accordingly, the present invention includes features and advantageswhich are believed to enable it to advance spinning system technology.Characteristics and advantages of the present invention described aboveand additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments and referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particularindividual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of themdistinguished from the prior art in their structures, functions, and/orresults achieved. Features of the invention have been broadly describedso that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood,and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may bebetter appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of theinvention described below and which may be included in the subjectmatter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art whohave the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions willappreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as acreative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems forcarrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of thisinvention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices ormethods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. Inaddition to the specific objects stated below for at least certainpreferred embodiments of the invention, there are other objects andpurposes which will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art whohas the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is,therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of thepresent invention to provide the embodiments and aspects listed aboveand: new, useful, unique, efficient, nonobvious spinners and systems andmethods for making and breaking threaded connections between tubularmembers; and rollers for such spinners and systems with spaced-apartgrooves and a projections permitting interlacing of the rollers.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the problems and needs inthis area and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactorymeeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments andequivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who has the benefits ofthis invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions,various purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments, given for the purpose ofdisclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent'sobject to claim this invention no matter how others may later attempt todisguise it by variations in form or additions of further improvements.

The Abstract that is part hereof is to enable the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office and the public generally, and scientists, engineers,researchers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar withpatent terms or legal terms of phraseology to determine quickly from acursory inspection or review the nature and general area of thedisclosure of this invention. The Abstract is neither intended to definethe invention, which is done by the claims, nor is it intended to belimiting of the scope of the invention or of the claims in any way.

It will be understood that the various embodiments of the presentinvention may include one, some, or all of the disclosed, described,and/or enumerated improvements and/or technical advantages and/orelements in claims to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of embodiments of the invention brieflysummarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which areshown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. Thesedrawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be usedto improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have otherequally effective or equivalent embodiments.

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a roller of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a front view of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a side view of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1F is a cross-section view along line 1E-1E of FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1G is a top view, partially cutaway, of part of the system of FIG.1A.

FIG. 1H is a top view, partially cutaway, of part of the system of FIG.1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2F is a perspective view of a bogey limiter for use in the systemof FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3E is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3F is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of part of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a side schematic view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a side schematic view of a system according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7A is a front perspective view of a spinner system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7B is a top view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C is a rear view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7D is a rear view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7E is a front view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7F is a bottom view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7G is a top partially cutaway view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7H is a top cross-section view of the system of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of part of a clamp apparatus of the systemof FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8B is a top view of the part of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is a top view of part of the clamp apparatus of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8D is a cross-section view along line 8D-8D of FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8E is a perspective view of part of the clamp apparatus of thesystem of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8F is a side view of the clamp apparatus of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8G is a cross-section view of the clamp apparatus as shown in FIG.8F.

FIG. 8H is a top view of the clamp apparatus of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8I is a cross-section view of the clamp apparatus as shown in FIG.8H.

FIG. 8J is a cross-section view of the clamp apparatus as shown in FIG.8I.

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in theabove-identified figures and described in detail below. Various aspectsand features of embodiments of the invention are described below andsome are set out in the dependent claims. Any combination of aspectsand/or features described below or shown in the dependent claims can beused except where such aspects and/or features are mutually exclusive.It should be understood that the appended drawings and descriptionherein are of preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit theinvention or the appended claims. On the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Inshowing and describing the preferred embodiments, like or identicalreference numerals are used to identify common or similar elements. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certainviews of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematicin the interest of clarity and conciseness.

As used herein and throughout all the various portions (and headings) ofthis patent, the terms “invention”, “present invention” and variationsthereof mean one or more embodiment, and are not intended to mean theclaimed invention of any particular appended claim(s) or all of theappended claims. Accordingly, the subject or topic of each suchreference is not automatically or necessarily part of, or required by,any particular claim(s) merely because of such reference. So long asthey are not mutually exclusive or contradictory any aspect or featureor combination of aspects or features of any embodiment disclosed hereinmay be used in any other embodiment disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate a spinner system 10 according to the presentinvention which has a main frame 12 with a crossmember 13 connecting twospaced-apart upright beams 14 releasably connected by chains 16 to ahanging bracket 18. Clamping cylinder assemblies 20 disposed betweenframe members or plates 22, 24 move arms 26, 28 which, in turn, movebogeys 30, 32 to move rollers mounted thereon (described below) intocontact with a tubular to be rotated. Tubulars can include pipe, drillpipe, tubing, and casing. Each arm 26, 28 includes a top plate (26 a, 28a) and a bottom plate (26 b, 28 b). It is within the scope of thepresent invention for any part or piece or component that includesmultiple items, e.g. (but not limited to) a component with multipleplates, to instead be made as a single integral component, e.g. acasting. Thus, e.g., a part with multiple plates connected together,e.g. welded together, may e a single manufactured casting.

Chains or cables connected to torque reaction links 34, 36 releasablyconnect the system to a support column or other structure (see also link34, FIG. 2D). Optional covers 41-44 shield motors 51-54 which rotaterollers 61-64. The arms 26, 28 are pivotably secured to trunnions 23, 25of trunnion blocks 27, 29. An end 31, 33 of each cylinder assembly 20 isrotatably secured by a pin 35 to a cylinder mount 37.

The plates 22, 24 have slots 21 a, 21 b (respectively—see FIGS. 1A, 2A)in which a pin 39 moves. The pin 39 extends through a hole 73 in anupper plate 30 a and a hole 74 in a lower plate 30 b of the left handbogey 30 to secure the left hand bogey 30 to the plates 22, 24. Theslots 21 a, 21 b limit movement of the pin 39 thereby limiting movementof the left hand bogey 30. This also limits the movement of the rollers63, 64 rotatably connected to the left hand bogey 30 (as described indetail below). Cover mount blocks 49 on the plate 30 a provide structureto which the cover 43 is secured. The cover 44 is secured to the plates26 a, 26 b. The left hand bogey 32 pivots about a pin 48. The pin 48extends through holes 88 in the plates 26 a, 26 b.

The right hand bogey 32 is “free floating”” in the sense that it is notslaved to anything and can pivot, e.g. up to 10 degrees with respect tothe center line of the system. The right hand bogey 32 freely about apin 45. The right hand bogey 32 has a top plate 32 a and a bottom plate32 b. The pin 45 passes through holes 71, 72 (see FIG. 2C) to secure theright hand bogey 32 to the plates 22, 24. The cover 42 is secured tomount blocks 75. The cover 42 is secured to the arms 26, 28.

The motors 53, 54 are on top of the left hand bogey 32 and the motors51, 52 are on top of the right hand bogey 30. As shown in dotted line inFIG. 1D a flow divider 170 receives power fluid (e.g. hydraulic fluidunder pressure from a rig source). Power fluid from the flow divider 170is provided via connections 172 to the motors 51-54 and to the clampingcylinders 20. As shown the motors 51-54 are located above correspondingrollers; but it is within the scope of the present invention to locatethe motors at any convenient location whether above the rollers or not.

The roller 62 is mounted with portions in the holes 76 a, 76 b (see FIG.2C); the roller 61 is mounted with portions in the holes 77 a, 77 b; theroller 64 is mounted with portions in the holes 78 a, 78 b (see FIG.2B); and the roller 63 is mounted with portions in the holes 79 a, 79 b.

The pin 47 extends through a hole 94 in the plate 26 a, through a hole(not shown) in the plate 26 b and through a hole 87 in the plate 22 anda hole 88 in the plate 24 to pivotably connect the arm 26 to the plates22, 24. The pin 46 extends through a hole 89 in the arm 28, throughholes 85, 86 in the plates 22, 24 and through a lower hole 101 in theplate 28 b to pivotably pin the arm 28 to the plates 22, 24.

FIG. 2E shows the arm 28 (the arm 26 is a mirror image of the arm 28).

FIG. 2F shows a bogey limiter 110 (see also in FIG. 1A) which preventsthe bogey 32 from rotating more than a certain amount, e.g. within a 10degree range of motion. In certain aspects, the bogey limiter isdeleted.

FIGS. 3A-3F show a roller 120 and associated parts. The roller 120 maybe any of the rollers 61, 62, 63, 64 (or any roller herein). The roller120 has a body 122 with a plurality of spaced-apart projections 124-127.Optionally, the projections have a series of spaced-apart grooves 128 or129. It is believed that the projections with these grooves willfunction similarly to the treads of a tire on a wet surface and asurface film on the projections will be forced into the grooves therebyincreasing friction between the rollers and a tubular to be rotated.

The roller body 122 has a recess 139 and a slot 131 which receives acorresponding member 132 (into slot 131) and a corresponding end (intorecess 139) of a drive spindle 133. The drive spindle 133 passes throughan upper bearing housing 134. The drive spindle 133 is connected to adrive shaft of a motor (e.g. a motor 51-54). The motor rotates the drivespindle 133 which in turn rotates the roller 120. The motor can bebolted to the upper bearing housing 134.

The roller 120 rotates on a lower spindle 135 which rotates in a lowerbearing housing 136 whose bottom is covered with a cover 137. The upperbearing housing 134 and the lower bearing housing 136 are connected to acorresponding bogey (see any bogey in the system of FIG. 1A).

Between the projections 124-127 are a series of spaced-apart areas 141,142, and 143 and an area 144 beneath the lowermost projection 127.Projections on an adjacent roller like the projections 124-127 can bereceived in and fit within the areas 141-144 as two rollers are movedtoward each other. The areas 141-144 are recessed with respect to theouter surfaces of the projections 124-127. It is within the scope of thepresent invention for a first roller to have one projection (or at leastone projection) and an adjacent roller to have one groove (or at leastone groove), with the one projection projecting into and received withinthe one groove so that the two rollers are interlaced (or for the atleast one projection to project into the at least one groove or for eachof a series of spaced-apart projections on a first roller to projectinto and be received within a corresponding groove of a series of spacedapart grooves on a second adjacent roller. Also, a spinning wrenchsystem according to the present invention can have two pairs of suchrollers, the two pairs movable to contact each other so that a firstroller of each pair interlaces with each other and a second roller ofeach pair interlaces with each other.

FIGS. 1F-1H illustrate movement of the arms 26, 28; the bogeys 30, 32;and the rollers 61-64 with respect to the frame 12 and with respect to atubular T (see FIG. 1H).

In FIGS. 1F and 1G the pin 39 is at one end 21 c of the slots 21 a, 21 b(end 21 c of the slot 21 a) which positions the rollers 63, 64 at anangle to a central axis A of the system 10 (e.g. in one particularaspect four degrees). The clamping cylinders 20 have not been actuatedto move the arms 26, 28, the bogeys 30, 32 and the rollers 61-64inwardly toward the tubular T.

As shown in FIG. 1H, the clamping cylinders 20 have been actuated,pivoting the arms 26, 28 to move the bogeys 30, 32 and the rollers 61-64moving the rollers 61, 62 toward the rollers 63, 64. The rollers 61, 63are interlaced with each other with the projections on one rollerreceived in the valleys of the other roller. The rollers 62, 64 areinterlaced with each other with the projections on one roller receivedin the valleys of the other roller. As shown in FIG. 1F, the rollers 61,62 are mounted so that they are interlaced with each other with theprojections of one roller received in the valleys of the other roller;as are the rollers 63, 64. All of the rollers contact the tubular T and,when rotated, the rollers rotate the tubular T. The interlacingfacilitates maintenance of spacing apart of the rollers around a tubularand helps prevent the rollers from slipping on a tubular or fromspitting a tubular out the front of the system.

As shown in FIG. 1H, the pin 39 has moved to an opposite end 21 d of theslots 21 a, 21 b guiding the orientation of the bogey 30 and rollers 63,64 at a desired location. The available stroke of the cylinders stopsmovement of the bogey 30 at a “clamp off” position or “clamp on withoutpipe” position. An axis B of the rollers 63, 64 is parallel to the axisA insuring the rollers are maintained horizontal to the central axis ofthe system at all times. In one aspect, the bogey pivot pins 345, 348each will move through an arc while a theoretical pipe center remains inposition relative to the system. This results in a small variableforward/rearward offset between the bogey pivot pins 345, 348 and thetheoretical pipe center. This offset can be reduced or eliminated byallowing the bogies to angle slightly either side of perpendicular tocentreline. This angle is governed by the shape of the guide slot (slots332 a, 332 b) acting with the pin 339 of the bogey 332. The slots 332 a,332 b are shaped to “open up” the angle of the bogey 332 in a “clampoff” position (when the bogies are moved away from the theoretical pipecenter).

As shown in FIG. 1H, each roller 61-64 has an equal amount of contactwith the tubular T so that static clamp forces are applied equally byall four rollers, including those on the right hand bogey (since theright hand bogey floats free, the left hand bogey allows all rollers tocontact a tubular with equal force). During spinning, rollers diagonalto each other have equal clamp force, but the leading and trailingrollers on each bogey have different contact force onto a pipe.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the cover 41.

FIG. 5 shows a system 200 according to the present invention forconnecting and disconnecting tubulars TB and TL While a spinning system210 (shown schematically) according to the present invention spins thetubular TB a wrench 202 (e.g. any suitable wrench or tong) holds thetubular TL. A hanger 204 permits connection of the system 210 to anothermember or structure. The wrench 202 is connected to the spinning system210 with a connection 206 and a spring 208. The spinning system 210 mayinclude any spinner according to the present invention, including butnot limited to, that of FIG. 1A or of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 6 show a system 10 according to the present invention (like systemsdisclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,185,547 and 7,062,991incorporated fully herein for all purposes) which has a carriage 20which is movably connected for up/down vertical movement to a column 14and which can also translate horizontally on a rig floor RF for movementtoward and away from a drill pipe D of a drill string DS in a well W.Support arms 22, 24 (two each) are pivotably connected at one end to abase 23 of the carriage 20 and at their other ends to a support 25.Optionally, only one support arm is used or two arms in parallel areused. A connector 21 is removably emplaceable in a socket 29 to mountthe system on the rig.

A torque wrench 11 (e.g. as disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos.7,185,547 and 7,062,991, or in any prior art cited therein) and aspinner 12 (any according to the present invention) are connected to thecarriage 20 and are movable by a power mechanism PM toward and away fromthe column 14 by moving the support arms 22, 24. Optionally, a knowntorque wrench may be used, e.g. instead of the torque wrench 100. Thespinner is movable up and down on the spin wrench carriage 25 toward andaway from the torque wrench. A control console CS for the system 10 isshown schematically in FIG. 1B. Optionally, the console CS communicatesby wire or wirelessly with the torque wrench 100 and/or the spinner 12and/or the control console CS is located remotely from it.

FIGS. 7A-7H illustrate a spinner system 300 according to the presentinvention which has a frame 312 with a crossmember 313 connecting twospaced-apart beams 314 releasably connected by connectors 316 to ahanging bracket 318. Clamping cylinder assemblies 320 disposed betweenframe members 322, 324 are connected to and selectively move arms 326,328 which, in turn, move bogeys 330, 332 to move rollers mounted thereon(described below) into contact with a tubular to be rotated. Cylinderyoke bushings 334 of the clamping cylinder assemblies 320 received andheld in corresponding holes 326 h, 328 h in plates 326 a, 326 b, 328 a,328 b of the arms 32 b, 328, respectively, to pivotably connect the arms326, 328 to the clamping cylinder assemblies 320. A center member 321connected to both clamping cylinder assemblies 320 is secured to a framecenter mount 335. It is within the scope of the present invention to usea single cylinder assembly instead of the two cylinder assemblies 320.

Each arm 326, 328 includes a top plate (326 a, 328 a) and a bottom plate326 b, 328 b). These plates 326 a, 326 b, 328 a, 328 b are pivotablymounted to and between the frame members 322, 324 with pins 325.

Covers 341-344 shield motors 351-354 and rollers 361-364 which arerotated by the motors 351-354. The bogeys 330, 332 are pivotablyconnected to the arms.

The plates 322, 324 have slots 322 a, 324 a respectively in which a pin339 moves. The pin 339 extends through a hole 373 in an upper plate 332a and a hole 374 in a lower plate 332 b of the bogey 332. The slots 332a, 332 b guide movement of the pin 339 thereby guiding movement of thebogey 332. This also guides the movement of the rollers 363, 364rotatably connected to the bogey 332 (as described in detail below).Cover mount blocks 349 on the plate 332 a provide structure to which thecover 343 is secured. The cover 344 is secured to the arm 328. The bogey332 pivots about a pin 348. The pin 348 extends through holes 388 in theplates 328 a, 328 b.

The bogey 330 is “free floating”” in the sense that it is not slaved toanything and can pivot with respect to the arm 326 and can pivot, e.g.up to 10 degrees, with respect to the center line of the system. Thebogey 330 freely pivots about a pin 345. The bogey 330 has a top plate330 a and a bottom plate 330 b. The pin 345 passes through holes 371,372 to secure the bogey 330 to the arm 326. The cover 341 is secured tomount blocks 375. The cover 342 is secured to the arm 326.

The motors 353, 354 are on top of the bogey 332; and the motors 351, 352are mounted on top of the bogey 330. A flow divider 370 receives powerfluid (e.g. hydraulic fluid under pressure from a rig source). Powerfluid from the flow divider 370 is provided via connections 372 to themotors 351-354. Power fluid from the flow divider 370 is provided to theclamping cylinder assemblies 320 via connections 374. As shown themotors 351-354 are located above corresponding rollers; but it is withinthe scope of the present invention to locate the motors (or a singlemotor or two motors) at any convenient location whether above therollers or not, below the rollers, or adjacent the rollers; or to use asingle motor for driving multiple rollers, e.g., but not limited to, afirst motor for driving the rollers on one side, e.g. via appropriategearing, and a second motor for driving the rollers on the other side.One motor can drive multiple rollers, e.g. via gearing, insynchronization.

The roller 62 is mounted with portions in the holes 76 a, 76 b (see FIG.2C); the roller 61 is mounted with portions in the holes 77 a, 77 b; theroller 64 is mounted with portions in the holes 78 a, 78 b (see FIG.2B); and the roller 63 is mounted with portions in the holes 79 a, 79 b.

A pin 347 extends through holes in the plates 322, 324 and through holesin the plates 326 a, 326 b to pivotably connect the arm 326 to theplates 322, 324. A pin 346 extends through holes in the plates 328 a,328 b and through holes in the plates 322, 324 to pivotably connect thearm 328 to the plates 322, 324.

The rollers 361-364 may be like any roller disclosed herein according tothe present invention (e.g., but not limited to, the rollers shown inFIGS. 1A and 3C). For example, the roller 363 has a plurality ofspaced-apart projections 377 and a plurality of spaced-apart recesses379. Any of the rollers 361-364 may have grooves like the grooves 128 or129 described above. The rollers 361-364 may have the associated partsas shown in FIGS. 3A-3F.

As shown in FIGS. 7E-7H, the clamping cylinder apparatuses have beenactivated to move the arms 326, 328, bogeys 330, 332, and rollers361-364 inwardly to clamp a tubular T for spinning. The pin 339 hasguided the rotation of the bogey 332 about the pivot pin 348. The pin337 prevents the bogey from trying to rotate in the opposite directionto the rollers 363 and 364. The pin 339 slides along the slots 332 a,324 a as the clamp cylinders are operated, but it is the end stroke ofthe clamp cylinders and not the slots that limit the extremes ofclamping movement. The bogey 332 can be considered as the “master” whilethe bogey 330 is the “slave”. The bogey 332 aligns the spinner unitprecisely with the tubular centerline irrespective of the tubulardiameter. The bogey 330 then passively self aligns as clamp force isapplied.

The rollers 361-364 are interlaced as shown in FIGS. 7E-7H. The roller361 interlaces with the roller 362 and with the roller 363. The roller362 also interlaces with the roller 364. The roller 364 interlaces withthe rollers 362 and 363.

In certain aspects, interlacing of rollers works like treads on a tire;i.e. contact area is reduced and local contact pressure is increased,while surface contamination tends to be pressed into the grooves.

Any suitable powered cylinder assemblies may be used for the clampingcylinder assemblies 320. In one particular aspect, as shown in FIGS. 7Hand 8A-8D, each clamping cylinder assembly 320 has a housing 320 awithin which a piston 320 p is movably mounted. To accommodate thepivoting of an arm 326 or arm 328 to which the housing 320 a isconnected, a pivotable connector 320 c connects the piston 320 p to thecenter member 321.

The connector 320 c has a first member 320 d with a ball end 320 e and asecond member 320 f with a ball end 320 g. A pin 320 h pins an end 320 iof the second member 320 f to the first member 320 d. The ball end 320 eof the first member is movable in a first spherical bearing 320 jconnected to the piston 320 p. The ball end 320 g is movable in a secondspherical bearing 320 k connected to the center member 321. The members320 d, 320 f act like a rod connected to the piston 320 p. Thus thehousing 320 a is pivotable with respect to the housing center member321, allowing the cylinder to accommodate a certain amount of bothangular and parallel misalignment without transferring significant loadsto the cylinder slides and seals. Thus the fixed cylinders using thehemispherical bearings 320 e, 320 g are substantially or almost totallyisolated from side loads (e.g. loads perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the members 320 d, 320 f which could create a moment which wouldbe resisted by sliding surfaces of the piston). In certain aspects suchside or lateral loads can be the result of wear of moving parts;production or installation tolerances; mechanical deflection underloading; or incorrect operation.

A seal 320 m (e.g., but not limited to, a rubber bellows apparatus)seals the housing-320 a-center-mount-321 interface and prevents moistureand contamination from reaching the connector system and ball joints. Aretaining ring 321 a screwed onto the center member 321 locks the ballend of the connector to the center member 321 to retain the sphericalbearing 320 k and resists cylinder retract loads when pressure isapplied to the return side of the piston (pressure in the volume space320 x).

Pressurized oil from the flow divider 370 enters a cylinder retract port320 w to move the housing inwardly to unclamp the rollers from atubular. The rollers are applied by supplying pressurized oil from theflow divider 370 to the rear of the piston via one of the two cylinderextend ports 320 r. Channels 320 s within the body of the cylinder leadthis oil to the rear of the piston. Oil within the space 320 x ispressed out of the cylinder retract port as the cylinder extends.

In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and theembodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claimsare well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends setforth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It isrealized that changes are possible within the scope of this inventionand it is further intended that each element or step recited in any ofthe following claims is to be understood as referring to the stepliterally and/or to all equivalent elements or steps. The followingclaims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legallypossible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimedherein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §102 and satisfiesthe conditions for patentability in §102. The invention claimed hereinis not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §103 and satisfies theconditions for patentability in §103. This specification and the claimsthat follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C.§112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determineand assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow asthey may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but outsideof, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the followingclaims. All patents and applications identified herein are incorporatedfully herein for all purposes. What follows are some of the claims forsome of the embodiments and aspects of the present invention, but theseclaims are not necessarily meant to be a complete listing of norexhaustive of every possible aspect and embodiment of the invention. Itis the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except forthose in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ togetherwith an associated function. In this patent document, the word“comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that itemsfollowing the word are included, but items not specifically mentionedare not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article“a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elementis present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one andonly one of the elements.

1. A spinning wrench system for connecting and disconnecting threadedtubulars, the spinning wrench system comprising a first mount member, afirst roller rotatably mounted to the first mount member, the firstroller comprising a body with at least one projection, a second rollerrotatably mounted to the first mount member, the second roller having atleast one groove sized and located for receipt therein of the at leastone projection of the first roller, a portion of the at least oneprojection of the first roller projecting into and received in the atleast one groove of the second roller, and the first roller and thesecond roller movable to contact a tubular and rotatable to rotate thetubular.
 2. The spinning wrench system of claim 1 further comprising asecond mount member, a third roller rotatably mounted to the secondmount member, the third roller comprising a body with at least oneprojection, a fourth roller rotatably mounted to the second mountmember, the fourth roller having at least one groove sized and locatedfor receipt therein of the at least one projection of the third roller,a portion of the at least one projection of the third roller projectinginto and received in the at least one groove of the fourth roller, andthe third roller and the fourth roller movable to contact the tubularand rotatable to rotate the tubular.
 3. The spinning wrench system ofclaim 2 further comprising a base, a first arm, the first mount memberconnected to the first arm, the first arm movably connected to the base,a second arm, the second mount member connected to the second arm, thesecond arm movably connected to the base, and the first arm and thesecond arm movable to move the rollers into contact with the tubular torotate the tubular.
 4. The spinning wrench system of claim 3 wherein thefirst arm and the second arm are movable to bring the first roller intocontact with the fourth roller so that a portion of the at least oneprojection of the first roller projects into and is received within theat least one groove of the fourth roller, and the third roller ismovable to contact the second roller so that a portion of the at leastone projection of the third roller projects into and is received withinthe at least one groove of the second roller.
 5. The spinning wrenchsystem of claim 1 wherein the at least one projection of the firstroller is a series of spaced-apart projections, the at least one grooveof the second roller is a series of spaced-apart grooves, and eachgroove of the series of spaced-apart grooves corresponds to acorresponding projection of the series of spaced-apart projections. 6.The spinning wrench system of claim 3 further comprising movementapparatus connected to the first arm and to the second arm forselectively moving the first arm and the second arm.
 7. The spinningwrench system of claim 6 wherein the movement apparatus includes a base,a center member connected to the base, a first powered cylinderapparatus connected to the center member and to the first arm for movingthe first arm, and a second powered cylinder apparatus connected to thecenter member and to the second arm for moving the second arm.
 8. Thespinning wrench system of claim 7 further comprising a first connectorpivotably connecting the first powered cylinder apparatus to the centermember, and a second connector pivotably connecting the second poweredcylinder apparatus to the center member.
 9. The spinning wrench systemof claim 7 wherein each powered cylinder apparatus includes a housingand a piston movably mounted in the housing, each connector including arod member within the housing and connected to the piston, each rodmember having a first end and a second end, each first end mounted on afirst hemispherical bearing, and each second end mounted in a secondhemispherical bearing so that each of the powered cylinder apparatusesis substantially isolated from lateral loading.
 10. The spinning wrenchsystem of claim 2 wherein each roller has a surface area and the rollersare movable to contact the tubular with each roller having a similaramount of surface area in contact with the tubular.
 11. The spinningwrench system of claim 3 further comprising guiding apparatus forguiding movement of the second mount member.
 12. The spinning wrenchsystem of claim 11 wherein the guiding apparatus includes a slot in thebase, a pin on the second mount member, the pin projecting into the slotand movable therein, and the slot guiding movement of the pin to guidemovement of the second mount member.
 13. The spinning wrench system ofclaim 3 wherein the first mount member is pivotably connected to thefirst arm so that the first mount member is free floating with respectto the first arm.
 14. The spinning wrench system of claim 12 wherein thefirst mount member is movable to align the spinning wrench system withrespect to centerline of a tubular to be rotated by the spinning wrenchsystem.
 15. The spinning wrench system of claim 3 wherein the spinningwrench system has a central axis and the rollers are positioned parallelto the central axis and are movable at a right angle to the centralaxis.
 16. The spinning wrench system of claim 1 further comprising driveapparatus for rotating the rollers.
 17. The spinning wrench system ofclaim 1 further comprising the drive apparatus including a separatemotor for driving each roller.
 18. A spinning wrench system forconnecting and disconnecting threaded tubulars a first mount member, afirst roller rotatably mounted to the first mount member, the firstroller comprising a body with at least one projection, a second rollerrotatably mounted to the first mount member, the second roller having atleast one groove sized and located for receipt therein of the at leastone projection of the first roller, a portion of the at least oneprojection of the first roller projecting into and received in the atleast one groove of the second roller, the first roller and the secondroller movable to contact a tubular and rotatable to rotate the tubular,a second mount member, a third roller rotatably mounted to the secondmount member, the third roller comprising a body with at least oneprojection, a fourth roller rotatably mounted to the second mountmember, the fourth roller having at least one groove sized and locatedfor receipt therein of the at least one projection of the third roller,a portion of the at least one projection of the third roller projectinginto and received in the at least one groove of the fourth roller, therollers movable to contact a tubular and rotatable to rotate thetubular, a base, a first arm, the first mount member connected to thefirst arm, the first arm movably connected to the base, a second arm,the second mount member connected to the second arm, the second armmovably connected to the base, the first arm and the second arm movableto move the rollers mounted thereon into contact with the tubular torotate the tubular, wherein the first arm and the second arm are movableto bring the first roller into interlacing contact with the fourthroller and the second roller into interlacing contact with the thirdroller, the at least one projection of the first roller and of the thirdroller is a series of spaced-apart projections, the at least one grooveof the second roller and of the fourth roller is a series ofspaced-apart grooves, each groove of each series of spaced-apart groovescorresponds to a projection of each series of spaced-apart projections,movement apparatus connected to the first arm and to the second arm forselectively moving the first arm and the second arm, the movementapparatus including a base, a center member connected to the base, afirst powered cylinder apparatus connected to the center member and tothe first arm for moving the first arm, a second powered cylinderapparatus connected to the center member and to the second arm formoving the second arm, and drive apparatus for rotating the rollers. 19.A method for rotating a tubular with a spinning wrench system, themethod comprising positioning a tubular with respect to rollers of aspinning wrench system so that the rollers are interlaced and drivinglycontact the tubular, the spinning wrench system comprising a first mountmember, a first roller rotatably mounted to the first mount member, thefirst roller comprising a body with at least one projection, a secondroller rotatably mounted to the first mount member, the second rollerhaving at least one groove sized and located for receipt therein of theat least one projection of the first roller, a portion of the at leastone projection of the first roller projecting into and received in theat least one groove of the second roller, and the first roller and thesecond roller movable to contact a tubular and rotatable to rotate thetubular, the spinning wrench system including driving apparatus forrotating the rollers, and rotating the rollers with the drivingapparatus thereby rotating the tubular.
 20. The method of claim 19wherein the driving apparatus includes a separate drive motor for eachroller and each roller is driven by a respective single motor.
 21. Asystem for connecting and disconnecting threaded tubulars, the systemcomprising a base, a spinning wrench system connected to the base, atorque wrench system connected to the base, the torque wrench system forholding a first tubular while the spinning wrench system spins a secondtubular with respect to the first tubular, the spinning wrench systemcomprising a first mount member, a first roller rotatably mounted to thefirst mount member, the first roller comprising a body with at least oneprojection, a second roller rotatably mounted to the first mount member,the second roller having at least one groove sized and located forreceipt therein of the at least one projection of the first roller, aportion of the at least one projection of the first roller projectinginto and received in the at least one groove of the second roller, andthe first roller and the second roller movable to contact a tubular androtatable to rotate the tubular.
 22. A spinning wrench system forconnecting and disconnecting threaded tubulars, the spinning wrenchsystem comprising a first mount member, a second mount member, firstroller apparatus rotatably mounted to the first mount member, secondroller apparatus rotatably mounted to the second mount member, the firstroller apparatus and the second roller apparatus movable to contact atubular and rotatable to rotate the tubular, a base, a first arm, thefirst mount member connected to the first arm, the first arm movablyconnected to the base, a second arm, the second mount member connectedto the second arm, the second arm movably connected to the base, thefirst arm and the second arm movable to move the respective rollerapparatus into contact with the tubular to rotate the tubular, movementapparatus connected to the first arm and to the second arm forselectively moving the first arm and the second arm, a center memberconnected to the base, a first powered cylinder apparatus connected tothe center member and to the first arm for moving the first arm, asecond powered cylinder apparatus connected to the center member and tothe second arm for moving the second arm, a first connector connectingthe first powered cylinder apparatus to the center member, and a secondconnector connecting the second powered cylinder apparatus to the centermember, each powered cylinder apparatus including a housing and a pistonmovably mounted in the housing, each connector including a rod member,each rod member having a first end and a second end, and each first endmounted on a first hemispherical bearing, and each second end mounted ina second hemispherical bearing so that each of the powered cylinderapparatuses is substantially isolated from lateral loading.
 23. A systemfor connecting and disconnecting threaded tubulars, the systemcomprising a base, a spinning wrench system connected to the base, atorque wrench system connected to the base, the torque wrench system forholding a first tubular while the spinning wrench system spins a secondtubular with respect to the first tubular, the spinning wrench systemcomprising a first mount member with a first roller apparatus rotatablymounted thereto, a second mount member with a second roller apparatusrotatably mounted thereto, the first mount member and the second mountmember movable so that each roller apparatus contacts a tubular, a base,a first arm, the first mount member connected to the first arm, thefirst arm movably connected to the base, a second arm, the second mountmember connected to the second arm, the second arm movably connected tothe base, the first arm and the second arm movable to move theirrespective mount member and corresponding roller apparatus into contactwith the tubular to rotate the tubular, movement apparatus connected tothe first arm and to the second arm for selectively moving the first armand the second arm, a first powered cylinder apparatus connected to thefirst arm for moving the first arm, a second powered cylinder apparatusconnected to the second arm for moving the second arm, a first connectorconnecting the first powered cylinder apparatus to the base, a secondconnector connecting the second powered cylinder apparatus to the base,each powered cylinder apparatus including a housing and a piston movablymounted in the housing, each connector including a rod member connectedto a corresponding piston, each rod member having a first end and asecond end, and each first end mounted on a first hemispherical bearingand each second end mounted in a second hemispherical bearing so thateach of the powered cylinder apparatuses is substantially isolated fromlateral loading.